Precious

Disclaimer: These characters are mine and this is an AU.
Author's note: I'm sorry for any typos.

Chapter 15

As Nick hesitated in knocking, because his stomach was once again performing backflips, he might have begun to regret coming to a compromise with Vinny. Two attempted and failed starts at knocking had Nicky deciding that he did regret making a compromise with Vinny.

His stomach was the most adamant protester against the arrangement. The pills with the hormone supplements were only one step towards the actual procedure and possible conception. Nick had to think about this in a positive light, his best option was to think of the pills as an actual buffer between birthing and babies. Of course, Vinny got off easy by simply having to wear a condom, thereby forgoing possibly jumping the gun, as Nick thought.

He’d talked to Adrian a couple of days prior during his break at work. Caring for some of his patients resurrected many memories that he believed had been long buried. Specifically, it was always the sight of the families that made his stomach sink in a way that was completely unrelated to the pills. Warm exchanges of hugs, kisses, even the balloons and teddy bears made him recall afternoons of cookies and songs in a warm kitchen.

With all of Vinny’s talk about family, Nick began to think of his old grandmother more and more. A serious morbid habit had developed as of late, he’d check the obituaries almost daily, obsessively in hopes that her name would not be there. To this day, her name had never appeared on any of those pages and Nick could breathe just a bit easier for one more day.

The door opened with a gusty flourish. Smile and wave was all Nick could do as Adrian was off again, moving on to deeper places in the house, ordering someone on the phone—in the nicest and most pointed voice as possible, to do her bidding and acquire the fabric that she’d been waiting for sooner. It never ceased to assume Nick how well Adrian was capable of making others do her bidding.

He was the Diva Supreme and older sister Nick never had.

The end of the stream of constant chatter had gone unnoticed by Nick as the phone dropped back in its cradle. Adrian entered the room, noticing his intense scrutiny of the newspaper and called him out on it. “Can you tell why you check the names of the newly departed everyday?” Adrian asked before taking a sip of steaming coffee.

“I was thinking about family again.” Nick sighed, and dropped the paper. The person he was looking for had held off the death for another day. The longing he had to see her was only growing stronger. “You know I never think about my parents….Never. When I do, I just get so mad.”

If he had a shrink, they called his feeling unresolved abandonment issues. The issues he had with his parents were unresolved, far from that actually. They were seated and rooted inside a ball of tremendous anger, because it’s the what ifs that get you.

What if he hadn’t made it?

What if he hadn’t been strong enough to resist the call of the streets?

What if he’d never met Vinny and missed having an opportunity to love?

Too many variables came into play; each more terrifying than the last. Back then, he would perfect prey for the vultures on the street, bright eyed, apple cheeked. Dancing had been fine, at least, he felt for the matter respectable with how he earned a living, knowing that he was relatively safe compared to some of his compatriots on the streets.

“Poor baby. Take comfort in knowing you aren’t the only one with family issues.” Adrian’s wearing that look of all knowing wisdom, the one that gives Nick comfort whenever his heart was heavy. “Why do you think we stick so close, huh? This is our family. The only one that won’t let you down or cast you out.”

Nick sighed. He liked the sound of it, but he still missed his grandmother. “I still miss my grandmother. I think I saw her heart break that day they sent me away.”

One long painted finger tapped on the newspaper. “Is she still living?”

“I think so. I haven’t seen her name in here yet.” Despite all that Vinny had done to bring Nick to the church, prayer and faith were still a bit foreign to him. This matter though warranted an continuous conversation with a higher authority.

Adrian stood from the table, his hands slam on the table. “Well, then I believe we need to make a trip.”

“A trip?” Nick questioned confused.

Adrian was already zipping around. “Are those bedroom still free at your place?”

“Yeah…” Nick said with hesitation. “Where are we going?”

“Dear, we are going to go get your sweet dear grandmother. The way I see it. You need her around and Vinny wants you happy.”

The idea was brilliant and fully accepted by Nick. “What should I wear?”

“Oh honey, I have the perfect outfits.”

“What does she like?” Adrian asked during the car ride.

“Well, she loves watching baseball, knitting, cooking, and watching soap operas.”

The latter item had Adrian intrigued. “What show?”

“Sutton’s Valley.” Nick replied with a wistful tone.

Adrian smiled knowingly. “Let me guess? Kal and Paige are her favorite couple and despite all their ups and downs she still believes that those two are meant to be together until death do them part or the writers rid the show of one of them.”

Nick shook his head. “Actually, she loves Harper and Jodie.” Adrian’s mouth formed a big ‘O’ as he stood there in shock. When Nick was younger and was just coming into understanding his feelings, his grandmother’s adamant and constant devotion to her favorite boys had made him feel that what he was going through wasn’t so weird after all. “And she hates, and I mean serious hates, A.J. for coming between them.”

Those seemed to be the magic words as Adrian dashed off into motion all over the apartment. Clothes flew on to surfaces, as if they were suddenly granted aerodynamic properties, and Adrian’s rapid chatter could be heard as the elder man moved throughout the apartment.

“What are you doing?” Nick looked around cautiously.

Suddenly, Adrian appeared , in his arms a freshly pressed and tailored navy blue suit hung in his arms. “We’re going to pay Grandma ___, now Grandma Constantine, a visit.”


Nick watched from the car. Sat calmly looking at the house that had been less of a home and more of a fortress. Nervously, he watched Adrian knock on the front door. That absolute confidence was shining through and Nick could only hope some of that was transitive. The door opened.

In the doorway, stood a woman. Soft brown hair, slightly above average beauty if it weren’t for her constant austerity. Being in her house, Nick had sometimes forgot that mouths were more than a straight line.

Nick would leave Adrian to charm his mother, because he still didn’t think this plan would work despite how bad he wanted to see his grandmother.

***

He watched from the car with rapt fascination as Adrian, looking more like Elizabeth Taylor than Elizabeth Taylor looked like Elizabeth Taylor. That charm stood high and his mouth was now agape as Adrian crossed the threshold, looking back at him.

Adrian disappears inside and Nick sat waiting. He dropped his head into his hands and only looks up at the start of yelling. Adrian was leading his grandmother laden with bags to the car. His grandmother like the firecracker she’d always been yelled at his mother. Each word grew more venomous with years of repressed anger. As her words penetrated his haze of shock, Nick exited the car, and watched silently as his mother and grandmother argued.

“You threw him away!” His grandmother yelled. The woman might have been older, but she was far from frail.

“Who are talking about?” His mother moved to intercept her, but his grandmother evaded the move and stood closer to Adrian.

She laughed bitterly, making a sound that he never dreamed he’d ever hear from her. “Who? I’m talking about your son! Your only child that you and your husband just so callously threw away.”

“Mother, please--”

His grandmother waved her arms dismissively. “No, there will be no holding me back this time from seeing my grandson.”

His mother allowed her true righteous anger to swell and explode. “How do you know this person is even telling the truth? My son could be long dead for all we know!”

Nick found his voice. “I’m right here.”

The two women and Adrian turned to look at Nick. His mother went white with shock, while his grandmother regained her color from the sudden shock and sauntered over to him with surefooted speed in her step and wrapped her arms around him.

“Oh baby. My precious baby.” She repeated over and over in his ear. His mother stared expressionlessly at him. Nick wondered if she had ever wondered what had become of him or if she hoped he would have died on the streets rather than bring shame to their close-minded family.

TBC